Cleveland Clinic's new Avon health center attracts thousands for open house (with video)

MORNING JOURNAL/ANNA NORRISDr. Frank Sabo, MD in Orthopedics, answers questions about the different types of surgical procedures that will be performed in the outpatient surgical unit yesterday during a community open house at the new Cleveland Clinic Richard E. Jacobs Health Center in Avon.

AVON -- More than 5,000 people attended the Richard E. Jacobs Health Center's open house yesterday afternoon.

"It was an overwhelming success," said Joseph Knapp, the facility's medical director.

The facility's 675 parking spots filled quickly and an overflow parking lot had to be established at the Henkel Corp. duct tape factory.

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Knapp said a plan was in place in anticipation of the a large turnout.

A shuttle service brought guests from the overflow lot to the facility's front door.

"If I knew it would be this packed, I would not have come," said Charles Smith, of Elyria, as he stood in a long line for a cup of complimentary coffee.

He said he wasn't surprised by how nice the facility looked.

"The Cleveland Clinic would not have a facility that is not nice," he said.

The four story, 190,000 square-foot health center has more than 30 specialty services, including pediatrics, plastic surgery, neuorlogy, dermatology and physical therapy.

The physical therapy area includes two unique pools with treadmills embedded in them. The pools feature adjustable temperatures and currents to provide the patient with the appropriate resistance.

The building will include four 23-hour-stay private rooms, complete with a second bed for significant others.

"We will have more care here than we had at any of our previous facilities," Knapp said.

He said the facility would act as a one-stop shop for patients because of the amount of specialty care available.

The open house did not just appeal to adults, children could be found dancing with Scooby Doo, playing an oversized version of Operation and carrying stuffed bears wearing scrubs.

Rozi Pudelski and Shawn Harris, cub scout leaders with pack 630 in North Ridgeville, brought along some of their scouts to see the new facility.

Pudelski said the children had a blast making christmas cards and snowflakes, drinking apple cider and listening to music from Radio Disney.

"I think it is a good thing for the community to open it up and show what happens behind the scenes," Harris said.

The scouts even got to see the operating room, where one asked a doctor how he cut people open, Pudelski said.

"The doctor was great and patiently explained it to him," she said.

She said getting behind the scenes look at the hospital had the scouts asking when they'd get to come back.

Katrina Bradley, of Grafton, said she was visiting the facility because of her 4-year-old son who is a cardiac patient.

She said the closeness of the facility would save nearly 20 minutes in driving.

"I thought it was beautiful," she said. "I was very impressed."

Bradley, who had to be shuttled in because of the limited parking, said she wasn't bothered because there wouldn't be as many people on a normal day. Knapp said the turnout showed just how many people in the area were interested in having a local health center.

"We're incredibly pleased with the turnout and incredibly proud of the confidence the people the region showed by coming out," he said.

Knapp said the facility is expecting to see about 300,000 patients in the first year.

A 24-hour emergency room will be opening in the facility once the Interstate interchange is finished nearby.